The West Briton newspaper has recently looked at the problem of girls been adopted more quickly than boys. The paper looked at some individual cases and spoke to the adoptive parents.

When seven-year-old Michael was asked by his adoptive parents why boys are better than girls he replied: "Because were sugar and spice and all things nice and we mend things around the house."

The first part of the description is more often linked to little girls as the traditional male equivalent is: "slugs and snails and puppy dog tails" perhaps it's not surprising that by far the majority of prospective adoptive parents want girls rather than boys.

But Michael's parents agree with their son - they say that he is extremely loving and affectionate as well as great fun and are really glad they were asked to consider a boy when they approached Cornwall's Adoption and Family Finding Unit.

Barbara and Ken had initially thought about adopting a girl.
"I knew more about girls and was more used to them than boys," said Barbara. "But Michael is perfect for us. It is the Child's character which is far more important. His sense of humour fits in with ours and also I feel boys are far less complex than girls and more easy going."

Cornwall follows the national trends in that there are many more young boys left on the adoption agency's books who are desperately longing for a permanent home than little girls.

Social worker, Veronica Yates says there seems to be a general misconception that girls can be easier to deal with and are more loving than boys.

Barbara and Ken, and another adoptive mother, Bridget, told The West Briton - as part of its on-going series about adoption - why they are delighted with their sons.

Ken has his own explanation as to why many parents first consider girls. "I think that because it is normally the lady who sows the seed of the idea of adopting a child that they tend to think of a girl as their first choice, someone to dress up and take shopping. Most men happily go along with this but there are many men would love a son."

Michael was six when he went to live with his new parents and dog Benjy seven months ago.

Michael and Benjy immediately became firm friends and at first Michael would confess more about his anxieties to the dog than his new parents. But Ken and Barbara were delighted with how quickly he came to accept them as his new parents. "I'll never forget the first time he called me dad, there was no pressure for him to do so but it only took about a week," said Ken.

On the issue of why boys can be preferable to girls, Barbara says: "Boys tend to settle into school very quickly, they seem to have lots of friends whereas girls have a best friend, which can change from week to week.

Girls can be more intense and analyse their situation a lot more, where I feel boys are more accepting."

Bridget adopted William when he was four and he is now 11. "He still loves to have a cuddle with me when we are on our own, he's still very affectionate."

Barbara and Ken say the whole adoption process took about a year and for Bridget it took much longer - she then lived in a different county.

Veronica said the aim now is for the process to take six months, quicker than being pregnant.

Barbara said that although the wait was frustrating at the time, it gave them plenty of time to get used to the idea and question that what they were doing was right.

"We must have thought about it for two or three years. You've got to do it for the right reasons, not because you're a do-gooder but I think you do it for selfish reasons, is it what you want, you don't just do it for the child's sake.

Ken added: "It fills a huge whole in your life."

Bridget said: "If you aren't able to have children and this is the line you go down, then having that first Mothers Day card is just amazing. I can't describe the feeling."

Both parents also felt there were lots of advantages in adopting slightly older children rather than babies or toddlers. "It's brilliant, much easier and there's no nappies," said Ken.

Barbara said that having a child of school age was less disruptive as she could carry on working.

Ken said at first the concept of choosing a child horrified him as there were so many in need of adoption

But now he understands that, with helpful suggestions from the adoption unit, that a suitable match is crucial from both the parents and child's point of view. "As soon as I saw Michael I knew he was just right for us."

Barbara added: "We now never feel that he's adopted, we feel just like a normal family.

"He never used to cry when he first knew us even if he fell over and hurt himself because crying never brought him any attention. The first time he fell and then cried we thought 'fantastic'."